American Factory Lockouts

There are two types of lockouts, which are defensive and offensive lockouts. The Board and Courts distinguish between the two lockouts to determine the legality of the action and the right of the employer to hire replacements after locking out union members. One example of a lockout is American crystal Sugar Co. One in which April 13 the lockout ended when a margin of 55% workers approved the company’s most recent contact. American Crystal Sugar Co. is considered to be the largest U.S sugar producer. In August 1, 2011, the company locked out 1,300 of its workers because they refused the company’s adjustment demands by 96% (Themilitant). In total there were four contracts, which the second one was rejected by 90%, the third one 63%, and lastly the fourth one 55%. The new contract, which was approved by 55 percent, contained a return to work clause guaranteeing a “good faith effort” to restore locked out workers to their preceding jobs in sex weeks after the establishment. Overall, the American Crystal lockout ended up costing the company a lot
in which almost 600 workers have been locked out for approximately four months. This lockout has been a result of a labor conflict, as the steelworkers union refused at certain adjustments demanded by the company. According to TRIBLIVE, the Pittsburgh specialty steel producer announced it would shut down the plants in Armstrong and Beaver countries for a short period of time in an attempt to cut cost and restore the company profitability. The company pronounced that it was continuing operating its factories where the union has been locked out with compensated and temporary workers. According to research, the two plants that will be unused are element of ATI’s Flat-rolled Products division in which more than 2,000 employees have been locked out since August 15 after the union opposed what the company refers to as its “last, best and final offer”